Benefits and Responsibilities to Serve in the USA

Atlas Corps Fellows will receive many benefits but will also assume a certain number of responsibilities. We encourage you to download and read the "Fellow Agreement" below to gain a better understanding of the benefits and responsibilities. After you review the Benefits and Responsibilities, we encourage you apply to be an Atlas Corps Fellow. Here is a brief list for your reference:

BENEFITS FOR FELLOWS SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES

Visa Expenses:
Selected candidates are expected to pay for their travel to the U.S. Embassy and pay the initial visa expenses. If the visa is approved, Atlas Corps will reimburse your visa fees, but not the travel to the Embassy.

Training:
Fellows will receive approximately one week of orientation at the beginning of their Fellowship. In addition, Fellows will be enrolled in Atlas Corps Nonprofit Management Series training program while in the United States.

Placement at a U.S. organization:
Fellows will be placed for a full time, 50-week volunteer position at a U.S. nonprofit organization.

Health Insurance:
Fellows will be enrolled in a basic health insurance plan in the U.S.

Travel:
Atlas Corps will arrange for an economy class round-trip airline ticket from the Fellow's home country to the Fellowship host city.

Living Stipend:
Fellows volunteering in the U.S. will receive a living stipend. As of February 2014, in Washington, DC, the living stipend is $16390.56 annually. For other cities, the living stipend ranges from $13,000 to $20,000 annually based on the cost of living for each unique Fellowship host city. The stipend is sufficient to cover the basic living expenses of housing, food, and transportation for one person. This living stipend is more than U.S. citizens receive when they participate in a similar domestic program called AmeriCorps VISTA.

End of Service Award:

If Fellows end the program in good standing, they may receive an End of Service Award equal to $1,000. If the Fellow extends for an additional six months, the End of Service Award can increase to a total of $1,500. If the Fellow extends for a period less than six months, the End of Service Award will be pro-rated based on the number of additional months completed. If a Fellow leaves before one year, they do not receive the End of Service Award.

Alumni Network:

After completing the program in good standing, Fellows will be included in a prestigious alumni network to continue learning from each other and supporting each others work.

COSTS:

Participation Fee:
Fellows are required to contribute a $500 participation fee. If a Fellow ends the program in good standing they will receive a $1000 end of service award. The end of service award is given for successfully fulfilling the responsibilities and expectations of being an Atlas Corps Fellow. There is no cost to apply to be a Fellow. The $500 participation fee will only be collected from applicants who are matched with an organization and accepted as an Atlas Corps Fellow.

Other Personal Expenses:
There may be personal expenses Fellows may incur depending on their spending habits. Additional personal expenses may include entertainment, personal travel, emergencies, and other miscellaneous expenses. Personal expenses will not be reimbursed.

Fellow Agreement:

Please read the November 2013 draft of the Fellow Agreement for more information. This Fellow Agreement is subject to change and the final version will be sent to you Fellows who are accepted into the program.

Please keep in mind:
Candidates who are preliminarily accepted, but do not receive their visas will be responsible for all of their visa related expenses.

Questions:
If your questions are not answered, contact apply[at]atlascorps[dot]org.

Host Organizations

Our U.S. Partners:
American Jewish World Service
AmericaSCORES
AsianAmerican Lead
Ashoka
AYUDA
Center for Inspired Teaching
CentroNia
Civic Enterprises
CORE Group
Free the Slaves
Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute
GBCHealth
GeorgiaForward
Global Citizens Network
Global Fairness Initiative
GlobalGiving
Global Health Corps
Global Kids
GPConnect
Grameen Foundation
Habitat for Humanity
HasNa, Inc.
InsideNGO
International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
International Peace and Security Institute
International Relief and Development
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
Management Systems International
MobileActive.org
Mobilize.org
National Audubon Society
NCOC
New York Needs You
One World Youth Project
Operation Smile
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Partners of the Americas
Points of Light Institute
Population Action International (PAI)
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
U.S. Peace Corps